End member for box type link chains



April 14, 1953 o -r 2,634,593

END MEMBER FOR BOX TYPE LINK CHAINS Filed July 19, 1950 215 I lo'FlG. 2 /6 /e /5 her INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 14, I953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE END MEMBER FOR BOX TYPE LINK CHAINS John Moretti, Cranston, R. I.

Application July 19, 1950, Serial No. 174,719

3 Claims. (01. 63-4) This invention relates to an end member for a box type link chain, which end member may serve any one of many functions.

It is usual to provide some special end connector or end member for connecting the ends of a chain together which is specially formed to perform a certain function. The tool operations are quite expensive for the formation of such an end link.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a very simple form of end member which may be connected to a chain, such as a bracelet chain, for connecting the ends of the chain together or for other specific uses.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for the end of a chain by utilizing the means by which the chain links are connected together.

Another object of this invention is to provide an end member in which the connecting means for the end of the chain is of a uniform standard formation but which may be provided at its other end in many different forms to serve many different purposes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of three box links connected together with an end member embodying my invention attached to the end thereof;

Figure 2 is a sectional view looking on top of the links shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of the structure heretofore mentioned;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the end member shown in Figures 1-3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of end member;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a still different modified form of end member;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a still different modified form of end member;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an end member used for connecting two lengths of chain on one of its sides to one length of chain on the other side.

In proceeding with this invention, I utilize the slot in the end wall of the box type link and the connector of the end box link to the next box for mounting a member in more or less rigid relation with the end of the chain and which may be provided with a connecting means for connecting the chain as a bracelet or may be utilized as a pendant ornament of different size or for attaching two lengths of chain to a single length all in parallel relation.

With reference to the drawings, [0 designates a box type link in which a gem H may be positioned and held by prongs l2. This box type link, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, has a bottom wall I4, side walls l5, and end walls I6. These end walls are each slotted as at I! and normally receive a connector l8 having heads [9 extending through the end walls It with the heads of a width greater than the width of the slot I! so that the connector is will hold the box links I 0 in assembled link relation. The connector is sufficient loose in the slot so that flexibility is provided. 1

The end link of this chain is designated l0 and the end connector l8, and these serve as a means for mounting the member, which is the subject of this invention. The end member is designated generally 20 and is formed of sheet stock having a body 2| of elongated shape from which there is a tongue 22 raised from the stock thereof leaving an opening 23. Arms 24, 24 at the end of this body are provided as shown in Figure 4. This body is assembled with the end link by positioning the body 2| against the bottom wall I4 of the end link with the tongue 22 extending through the slot IT. The body is of such an extent that when the tongue is in this slot II, the arms 24 are beneath the connector I 8'. The arms 24 are then bent inwardly as at 25 about the connector so as to embrace it and hold the end membber assembled on the end of the chain.

At the opposite end of the body 2| of the end member, from the position of the arms 24, I provide, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, a latch by means of a returned bend 26 having a handle portion 27. This latch may serve as a means for connecting the chain to a catch which may be mounted on a similar body member at the opposite end of the chain or in some instances, as shown in Figure 6, an eye 28 is provided on the end portion 29 of the body 2| for a different type of attachment.

In other cases, as shown in Figure 5, the end of the body may be provided with an enlarged box setting 30 and may be attached to the end of a chain to serve as a pendant. some jewel may be set into the hollow 3| of the box by prongs 32. In Figure 7 I have illustrated the body 2| as provided with a plain portion 33 to which some article may be soldered as desired.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated an end member 35 which has two bodies 36 attached together by a bar 31 so that two lengths of chain may be attached by arms 24 on one side of the crossbar 31, while the body 38 is formed on the other side of this crossbar 3! for connection to a single length of chain with all of the lengths of chain extending in generally parallel relation. From the above it will appear that the invention is in the body and its connection to the end of the chain, while various parts may be provided on the end member to serve various functions.

I claim:

1. An article of jewelry comprising a plurality" V of spaced box-like links eachhaving a: "bottom and end walls at right angles thereto with a slot in its end walls, a connector between adjacent links and extending across saidspace intonthe slots of adjacent walls, an end member for the end link of said article having an elongated flat 1 4 tending laterally thereof in the plane of the body at the location of the connector, said arm being wrapped laterally about the connector and between the end walls of adjacent links to secure the end member in position.

2. An end member as in claim 1 wherein the tongue is lifted out of the stock of the body.

3. An end member as in claim 1 wherein a pair of arms embrace the connector.

JOHN 'MORETTI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

